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A tractor driver has been shot after driving over cars in the Turkish capital, apparently in protest against Israel.

The driver, who ignored calls to stop and was hit in the leg, told police he planned a protest outside the Israeli embassy in Ankara, the state-run news agency reported.

Photos from the scene show how the red tractor crushed parked cars in its path before it was eventually stopped in an area close to the Israeli ambassador’s residence.

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Forensic officers work at the scene after a tractor drove over cars in Ankara (Picture: AP)

It was unclear whether the driver mistook the residence for the embassy.

The man, identified as a 45-year-old farmer, had been under treatment for psychological problems since 2007, the Ankara governor’s office said.

Anadolu Agency said police guarding the parliament building fired warning shots into the air to stop the tractor on Ataturk Boulevard that is lined with government buildings and embassies. The report said the tractor continued on its way, hitting and crushing cars on the route.

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The tractor was eventually stopped on a street some two kilometers away from the Israeli residence. The tractor crashed into parked cars before coming to a halt.

Anadolu said the man told police before being taking to hospital that he planned to stage a protest outside the Israeli embassy.

The Israeli ambassador returned to Israel in May following a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.